Friday, June 5, 2020

Best Ever Tropical Fruit Salad + VIDEO

Best Ever Tropical Fruit Salad is the only recipe you'll ever need. My entire picky family devoured this fruit salad. The dressing is truly magical. The combination of citrus juices with honey are phenomenal in the fruit salad dressing. Then we added a few special ingredients that give it a little nuttiness and a touch of zestiness to kick it up a notch. Perfect any-occasion dish.

How to Make Fruit Salad

Fruit salads are a pretty reliable sign of spring and warmer weather around here. We love fruit in our house, we eat it year round, but come spring our counters and refrigerator are packed with fresh fruit.

This past week we had a group party at the park with Munchkin's ATA (Taekwondo) friends and I wanted to bring something light and healthy, as temps here in Arizona hit 96 this past weekend.

I could only think of bringing ice pops or fruit and I figured fruit would travel much better in 96-degree temps. I have to say it was a brilliant decision and I am pretty sure every drop was devoured, although I can't know for sure.

We did leave a little early. Chad mentioned ice cream and the next thing you know we were in the car driving to Dairy Queen. You know, priorities. LOL

As I was saying, the fruit salad.... The very next day I decided to test the fruit salad recipe and I have to say the second recipe test resulted in my 'happy dance' AND a few pats on the back as I shouted out "I AM A GENIUS! OH MY GOSH, THIS IS DIVINE!"

Ok, so I guess you figured out that I love the fruit salad and you are probably wondering what is so special about it.

Tropical Fruit Salads are pretty fantastic on their own. I mean look at the players: pineapple, mango, kiwi, mandarin oranges and strawberry (for a pop of color).

They can certainly pull off a fantastic dish all on their own. But, you know how well lime compliments those tropical flavors, right? What about lime, honey, and ginger?

They are a true flavor affinity! Then to kick it up a notch we added in lemon and more orange. Last, for a little nuttiness, I added poppyseed.

My masterpiece! The Best Ever Tropical Fruit Salad. This is the only one you need to try.

My entire picky family devoured this fruit salad. The dressing is truly magical. The combination of citrus juices with honey and poppy seeds.

The ginger gives this fruit salad a little zestiness that really kicks it up a notch, but it is subtle enough that no one will really be able to put their finger on the flavor.

Enjoy, oh and bring the recipe. People will be asking for it!

Speaking of simple recipes, of course our new cookbook {The Simple Kitchen - available to order now}is packed with delicious, easy recipes. The Simple Kitchen is loaded with more than 75 BRAND NEW recipes and a hand full of family favorites too.

8 chapters with a total of 82 quick and easy recipes that are bursting with flavor!!! Every recipe has a photo that will make your mouth water. It has slow cooker meals, one-pot recipes, quick dinners, simple appetizers, desserts and more!!! And we have included kitchen tips to make dinnertime less stressful.

We are so excited to share our recipes with you!!! So, don't wait. Go and grab yours today! The Simple Kitchen<-- click here to order.

Helpful Tips to make Best Ever Tropical Fruit Salad:

This fruit salad is fabulous with whatever you have on hand. I love carambola (star fruit) and papaya in this salad as well.

Bananas are lovely, but have to be added at the last minute or they will get soft and not look pretty.

If you want to make the salad ahead, prepare the dressing and store it in the refrigerator in a mason jar until 30 minutes or so before you are ready to serve. Shake the dressing, pour over the salad and toss to combine.

What you will need to make Best Ever Tropical Fruit Salad:

Citrus Juicer - This makes juicing the lime much easier. Plus you’ll get every last drop out.

Microplane/Zester - This is great for zesting citrus. I also use mine to grate garlic.

Colander - Washing fresh fruit is much easier with a colander. Plus it’s great for draining pasta too.

Check out more of our favorite fruit salad recipes:

See how easy this Best Ever Tropical Fruit Salad is to make. Watch the video!!!

Yield: 12 CupsAuthor: Donna Elick

Best Ever Tropical Fruit Salad

The Best Ever Tropical Fruit Salad is the only recipe you'll ever need. My entire picky family devoured this fruit salad. The dressing is truly magical. The combination of citrus juices with honey are phenomenal. Then we added a few special ingredients that give it a little nuttiness and a touch of zestiness to kick it up a notch. Perfect any-occasion dish.

prep time: 25 MINScook time: total time: 25 mins

Ingredients

12 mandarin oranges, divided (for dressing and salad)

2 cup strawberries, sliced

1 pineapple, cut into bite-size chunks

5 kiwi, sliced

3 mangoes, cut into bite-size chunks

Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing

1 medium lemon

1 lime

1/4 cup honey

1/2 teaspoon Gourmet Garden Ginger Paste or fresh grated ginger

1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds

Instructions

Wash and dry lemon, lime and 2 mandarin oranges. Zest the washed and dried citrus with a zester or fine grater. Add to 1 cup measuring cup or small bowl. Cut each in half and squeeze the juice into the measuring cup. (You should get about 1/2 cup juice). Add honey, ginger and poppy seeds to juice mixture and whisk until combined. Set aside or place in the refrigerator if serving later.

Prepare remaining fruit. Slice strawberries and kiwi. Section remaining oranges. Cut pineapple and mango into bite size chunks. Place fruit in a large bowl. Pour dressing on top of fruit about 30 minutes before serving. Gently toss to coat.

Serve and enjoy!

DONNA'S NOTE

This fruit salad is fabulous with whatever you have on hand. I love carambola (star fruit) and papaya in this salad as well. Bananas are lovely, but have to be added at the last minute or they will get soft and not look pretty.

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.

43 comments:

I am going to make this but I can't have strawberry so will substitute for raspberries. That should work. They are still red. Or what about maraschino cherries, rinsed so they aren't candied and sweet. Would that work?

I make a fruit salad that everyone raves over, I use some of the same things but I keep a jar of instant french vanilla pudding on hand. I use a teaspoon in homemade whipped cream to stabilize it a bit and I use a few teaspoons plus the seeds of a vanilla bean to make the dressing thick, creamy and luxurious.

I want to make this for a luncheon I am having for some girlfriends tomorrow. To save time, can I cut up and mix all of the fruit (mandarin oranges), strawberries, pineapple, kiwi, and mangos today. Refrigerate and put the dressing on tomorrow? Or will it get "mushy"? Thanks

No. If you omit the poppy seeds, all the fruit will lose its flavor. Poppy seeds help the fruits stay moist. If you make it without, it will start to shrink in size and before you know it, it will all be gone. Poof.

Your ingredient list states 12 Mandarin Oranges - SPLIT for salad and dressing but the ingredient list for the dressing does NOT include mandarin oranges. Should the juice of some of the oranges be added to the dressing? How much?